Doñana National Park

• Oil and gas (Potential impacts from infrastructural projects in the vicinity of the property, including gas storage)
• Mining (Proposed re-opening of Aznalcóllar mine upstream of the property)
• Water infrastructure (Proposed upgrading of a dam upstream of the property)
• Water (extraction) (Unsustainable use of water with impacts on the Doñana aquifer)
• Water infrastructure (Dredging of the Guadalquivir River) (issue resolved)

On 28 November 2018, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/document/171075 and which provides updates in response to Decision 41 COM 7B.9 as follows:

• While the hydrological condition of the Almonte-Marismas aquifer (MASb) outside of the property has deteriorated, the condition inside the property is considered to be stable. The Extraction Plan (EP) and Special Irrigation Plan (SIP) is being implemented, resulting in the closure of 315 wells since 2015 to reduce groundwater abstraction. Land acquisition for hydrological forest restoration and analyses of existing irrigation infrastructures have resulted in a net-reduction of irrigable agricultural land by 268.21ha. The public administrations involved in water management are aiming to replenish the aquifer deposits by increasing the annual transfer of 4.99hm³ from the Tinto-Odiel-Piedras basin to the Guadalquivir basin by another 15hm³;
• On 2 March 2018, the developer Minera Los Frailes initiated a process for obtaining Unified Environmental Approval to reactivate the former Aznalcóllar mine. The project is being evaluated in line with the Integrated Environmental Quality Management, in which the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessments is expected to be incorporated together with a risk analysis;
• Four gas extraction and storage projects in the vicinity of the property are undergoing approval processes. The Marismas Oriental project has not been authorized. The Environmental Impact statements were positive for the Marisma Occidental and Aznalcázar projects and the former has started implementation whilst the latter is pending the approval of the Ministry for Industry. The Saladillo project has received a positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) but its application process is still in progress. All projects are located 3 to 25km from the property;
• A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Guadalquivir river basin will be conducted for the next Hydrological Planning Cycle under the European Union Water Framework Directive. The consultation and public information period for the third cycle of the hydrological planning process (2021-2027) started in October 2018. The new Hydrological Plan for this cycle will incorporate a specific chapter on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property.

On 1, 24, 26 and 30 April 2019, the State Party responded to a letter from the World Heritage Centre, dated 6 March 2019, which requested additional information on the hydrogeological relations of the aquifer zones and clarifications in response to third party information on, inter alia, a proposal of a highway connecting Huelva and Cadiz and on infringement proceedings launched by the European Commission regarding the Habitats and the Water Framework Directives. In its letters, the State Party invited an IUCN expert to the property to assess the situation, and also provided clarifications to the Centre’s letter, including confirmation that the highway project does not exist.

The State Party’ reported efforts to reduce groundwater usage and the stabilization of the hydrological status inside the property are appreciated. It is noted nevertheless, that the annexed 2016-2017 Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation report on the status of the aquifers indicates a stabilization of the aquifer sections inside the property at “pre-alert” and “alert” levels, whilst four sections partly adjoining the northern boundary of the property are reported to be in an “alarming” state. The State Party clarified that the aquifer inside the property is separate to the aquifer sections outside of the property and therefore unaffected by their status. It is appreciated that the State Party is implementing the EP and SIP, including the reduction of irrigable agricultural land and continued inspections. Nevertheless, further effort is needed to reverse the state of the Doñana aquifer, which the State Party notes, under the current method and level of groundwater abstraction in a significant part of the MASb, if sustained, would ultimately compromise the terrestrial ecosystem.

The efforts to quadruple the transfer of water from the Tinto-Odiel-Piedras basin to the Guadalquivir basin are noted in this respect, but their potential positive and negative effects, such as pollution risks and oversupply – as noted in the 2015 mission – should be carefully assessed  through an EIA in line with the IUCN Advice Note.

While it is noted that the chapter titles of the current Scoping Document of the SEA do not explicitly refer to the OUV of the property, it is appreciated that the State Party plans to include a chapter on it in the Hydrological Plan for the period of 2021-2027. The chapter should be accompanied by revised plans for water management in the river basin, covering water supply scenarios, agricultural, industrial and commercial development, with the objective of long term protection of the OUV, in order to be in line with Decisions 38 COM 7B.79 and 41 COM 7B.9. The State Party should be requested to submit the draft version of this chapter to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN.

Despite the above-mentioned efforts, it is of concern that the European Commission decided to refer Spain to the European Court of Justice regarding breaches of the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive, whilst also noting that the State Party reports it has not yet been informed of the precise terms of the referral.

The submitted project documentation and EIA assess the re-opening of the former Aznacóllar mine for sulphur exploitation and on-site production of zinc, lead and copper located upstream of the property. Against the background of Decisions CONF 203 VII.25/24, CONF 204 IV.B.39 and 39 COM 7B.26, the State Party is urged to prepare a clear risk preparedness plan and rapid emergency response capacities. The State Party’s intention to incorporate the IUCN Advice Note and a risk analysis is considered crucial and should comprise a systematic risk assessment and emergency action plans that would take into account the location of the property downstream of the mine. Therefore, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit the respective analyses to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN before a decision on the re-opening of the mine is made.

The Environmental Impact statements for Marisma Occidental and Aznalcázar projects recognize temporary impacts during the construction phase, including fragmentation of habitats and disturbance of fauna,  surface aquifers and watercourses While the mitigation measures are noted, the additional fragmentation of the property’s upstream areas potentially adding pressure on habitats, surface and groundwater flow are of concern, especially in conjunction with other potential impacts discussed above.

Taking into consideration the invitation from the State Party for an IUCN expert to visit the property, as well as the discussions about surface and groundwater, and also considering the multiple development projects proposed, planned and approved in the vicinity of the property, which have the potential to individually and cumulatively impact on the OUV of the property, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission, to be organized jointly with the Ramsar Secretariat, if possible.